Studies in Henry JamesStudies in Henry James collects for the first time all the writings by R. P. Blackmur (1904-1965), a pioneer of New Criticism and major literary force of our century, on Henry James (1843-1916), author of such classic novels as The Europeans, The Portrait of a Lady, and The Ambassadors. Blackmur's "first elated reading" of James in 1921 left the young man "both confident and desperate in the force of art." In the ensuing years, his approach to James grew warier, yet "the Master" remained for him a singular "haunt and a presence." Although his originally projected book for New Directions never materialized, Blackmur did complete articles, essays, and introductions over the years which, assembled here, brilliantly illuminated the wide spectrum of James's work. Arranged chronologically are "The Critical Prefaces of Henry James" (1934)," "The Sacred Fount" (1942), "In the Country of the Blue" (1943) on James's conception of his art, "Henry James" (from the 1948 Macmillan Literary History of the United States), "The Loose and Baggy Monsters of Henry James" (1951) on style, and introductions to the eight Laurel editions of James's novels (1958-64) and to the 1952 Grove Press edition of The Golden Bowl. An appendix contains "The Spoils of Henry James: A Special Case of the Normal," an unfinished essay, probably composed as a preface to the original New Directions book, and published here for the first time. Blackmur's consistently lyrical and acute presentations insure the lasting value of Studies in Henry James to both James and Blackmur scholars and to readers first encountering either writer. An historical introduction has been provided by editor Veronica A. Makowsky, who also edited Blackmur's Henry Adams (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1980). |
Contents
Editors Introduction | 1 |
The Critical Prefaces of Henry James 1934 | 15 |
The Sacred Fount 1942 | 45 |
In the Country of the Blue 1943 | 69 |
Henry James 1948 | 91 |
The Loose and Baggy Monsters of Henry James 1951 | 125 |
The Golden Bowl Grove Press 1952 | 147 |
Introductions to the Laurel Henry James Series 19581964 | 161 |
Appendix | 231 |
Acknowledgments 250 | |
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Common terms and phrases
action actual allegory Ambassadors artist Aspern Papers Assingham become called character Charlotte Cintré conscience consciousness conventions created critical Daisy Miller dead death Densher drama essay Europe evil example experience fable feel felt fiction Fleda force ghost girl give Golden Bowl happens Henry James human ideal imagination innocence intelligence International Theme Isabel Archer James's novels Jolly Corner Kate Croy kind knew Lady Lambert Strether literary living look Madame Merle Maggie Verver Maggie's Maisie Knew marriage marry master meaning Milly Theale mind Miriam narrator never Nick novelist obsession Owen Wingrave Paris passion perception perhaps poetry Portrait possible Prefaces Prince R. P. Blackmur reader reality relations represent role Sacred Fount scene seems sense sensibility society Spoils of Poynton story struggle T. S. Eliot tale things tion Tragic Muse turn Vionnet Wings writing young